Variability and correlation studies in agro-morphological traits of the aboriginal Nsukka yellow pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted at the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to assess the genetic diversity and correlation among the aboriginal Nsukka yellow pepper genotypes using agro-morphological traits. The initial population comprising 18 genotypes was sourced from the growers and evaluated in 2009 after which 49 elite genotypes were generated for 2010 evaluation. Analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and cluster analysis. The results showed that the first principal component accounted for 54.69 % and 65.96 % of the total variations in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Based on the traits defined by the PCA, the genotypes were classified into three clusters and one outlier in both years using the first and second components. Results of the correlations indicated that total fruits yield per plant correlated highly significantly with number of fruits per plant, number of leaves per plant, number of nodes per plant, fruit length, single fruit weight, days to first flowering and fruit girth. This implies that selection based on these traits would bring about increase in total fruit yield per plant. It is also evident from the results that the degree of variability in Nsukka yellow pepper is adequate for initiating a selection programme aimed at improving yield for the poor resource farmer in the tropical West Africa.